Associate Director, Endowment Management

Wayne State University is searching for an experiencedAssociate Director, Endowment Managementat its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Job Purpose

This Associate Director, Endowment Management will lead Treasury’s Endowment & Gift Management Team which consists of endowment accounting/administration, planned gift administration, and stock donations. This position will prepare financial statements for the Wayne State University Foundation (the Foundation), serve as a key process partner for the Development Office and the Foundation and manage related day-to-day operations, process improvement, implementation, and the management of staff. This role reports to the Assistant Vice President of Treasury.

Essential Functions

• Prepares detailed, accurate, and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual investment journal entries, reports, statements, and reconciliations.

• Reconciles investment manager and custody statements.

• Records financial transactions into the University's accounting system, including quarterly endowment distributions, quarterly unitization processes, and the transfers of funds between accounts.

• Lead the endowment related audit work, draft the Foundation’s financial statements, and support the University’s audit.

• Performs cash flow analysis to determine the appropriate amount of fund liquidity necessary to meet the short-term obligations of the endowment.

• Documents investment accounting processes and procedures.

• Creates and updates tools and resources for end users.

• Advises on endowment policy issues.

• Manages multiple complex projects simultaneously.

• Keeps current and compliant with best business practices and changes in relevant regulations, laws, and accounting pronouncements as they occur.

• Provides leadership and day-to-day supervision to assigned professional staff. Coaches, counsels, and trains staff. Answers questions and resolves problems as needed.

• Supervises the administration, accounting, and reporting for planned gifts and trusts and provides back up support. Consult, analyze, and review proposed planned gifts.

• Perform other related duties as assigned. (Including but not limited to, process improvements, system implementation, cross-team support).

• Analyzes and reports on the endowment and other restricted gifts to campus constituencies.

• Prepares (or reviews) annual surveys (e.g., NACUBO) and other annual and ad hoc requests for investment data, including requests from the Development Office, Schools/Colleges/Divisions.

• Prepares (or reviews) tax, regulatory, agency, University, donor, and ad hoc reports.

• Cross-trains in Treasury, including cash management and debt operations.

WORK CONTEXT

Job Reports to: Vice President/AVP/Dean.

Leadership Accountability: Implements operating plans.

Supervisory Accountability: Supervises professionals and non-managers.

Organizational Accountability: Manages sub-unit of a department.

Financial Accountability: Approves expenditures.

Customer Accountability: Interfaces with officials and executives.

Freedom to Act: Subject to general input from supervisor.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor's degree.

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred.

Experience

• Specialist (minimum 5 years of job-related experience).

• Minimum five years of accounting experience in progressively responsible roles. Experience in accounting for complex investment portfolios.

• Proficiency required in Microsoft Office products, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and accounting software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Operational

• Solid knowledge of GAAP, GASB, endowment investment accounting, and fund accounting.

• Knowledge of planned gift accounting.

• Endowment unitization process and activities.

• Proven ability to apply broad conceptual judgment, initiative, and ability to deal with complex accounting issues.

• Ability to extract, interpret, and leverage data including but not limited to developing spreadsheets and using databases for analysis and operational support.

• Ability to understand, interpret, and articulate complex information to multiple audiences.

Collaboration, Leadership & Management.

• Foster and build strong relationships with the University stakeholders.

• Work with a diverse workforce.

• Ability to express oneself clearly and emphatically in interactions with others in all forms of communication.

• Provide strategy-driven, peer-to-peer leadership to colleagues within Treasury and across the University.

• Lead and move projects forward effectively.

• Strong interpersonal skills and customer service.

• Ability to train, mentor, and develop staff.

• Successfully navigates the complex structure of a decentralized University.

• Commitment to continuous process improvement.

  School/College/Division:

H82 - Fiscal Operations

Primary department:

H8203 - Cash Management & Investments

Employment type:

• Regular Employee

• Job type: Full Time

• Job category: Staff/Administrative

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary

Working conditions:

• Office Environment. - Weekend and evening hours based on business needs required. - Limited out-of-state travel to conferences and training required. - Ability to travel across campus.

Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1

• Reposted position: No

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.

Equal employment opportunity statement:

Wayne State University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. The university encourages applications from women, people of color and other underrepresented people. Wayne State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.